The State of the Nova Nation podcast

Before the season began, Jay Wright selected the sophomore class to be the most important group in determining this team's success for the year. He was certainly correct. Collin Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points vs. the Georgetown Hoyas and is shooting approximately 50 percent from long range over the last six games. Jermaine Samuels grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds. Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree...

The Villanova Wildcats enjoyed their most dominant win in Big East play so far, sinking the Seton Hall Pirates’ ship with a barrage of 17 made three-pointers and a 28-point margin of victory. The Wildcats never left any doubt, and the helpless Pirates lost the first leg of the regular season series at the Wells Fargo Center. Now sitting at 7-0 in Big East play, the Wildcats have a pretty good chan...

Attitude--control what you can control. After software glitches in post-production shredded Tuesday's episode, we're back with an all-new pod. We break down and recap the Villanova Wildcats' recent (and successful) trip to Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Butler Bulldogs wouldn't catch them at home this time around. Now, Villanova is 6-0 in Big East play and you've got to be glad you never hit the panic but...

The Villanova Wildcats are preparing for their first Big East battle at the Wells Fargo Center this season. They're taking on the Xavier Musketeers on Friday night, and this isn't the same team over the last few years. Travis Steele as at the helm, taking over for Chris Mack, and Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura aren't stepping foot on that court. So who's left? We also discuss the Lady 'Cats Big 5...

Somehow, we made it this far. It's episode 100! (It technically is, since our 2017 wrap up and post-Wisconsin NCAA Tournament episode didn't transfer over when we switched servers. So although it'll say 99 episodes, this is actually 100!) The Villanova Wildcats are still riding high and undefeated in Big East play after venturing into Omaha and downing the Creighton Bluejays. Another solid outing...

The Villanova Wildcats are still in first place and undefeated in Big East play after holding off the St. John's Red Storm at the Finneran Pavilion on Tuesday. It was a hard-fought battle between the up-and-coming challenger St. John's and the defending Big East and NCAA Tournament champions. The Wildcats grinded one out, coming from behind for the win. Seniors were key, as Eric Paschall set the t...

We're back for the first episode of 2019! After a holiday hiatus, the State of the Nova Nation is back. While the podcast was on break, the Villanova Wildcats have been back on their winning ways. The Wildcats have won three-straight, beating the UConn Huskies, DePaul Blue Demons, and the Providence Friars. We're looking at the good, the bad, and things to address moving forward with this squad. T...

The Villanova Wildcats are preparing for the second leg of a three-year series with the Connecticut Huskies. 'Nova dominated UConn at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn. last year, but now the series heads to the Garden. It'll be Villanova's final non-conference game before taking a decent break before starting Big East play. We preview that game, discuss the importance of Collin Gillespie, a quick l...

It was a hard-fought effort for the Villanova Wildcats, but they couldn't topple the Kansas Jayhawks over at Allen Fieldhouse. The good and the bad from that game and why even though 'Nova lost back-to-back games for the second time this year, there's a better feeling overall moving ahead than the pandemonium from earlier this season. Not a big moral victory believer, but there's some good from pl...

Winning is no birthright, and the Penn Quakers certainly showed that, as they were the first Big 5 team to topple the Villanova Wildcats in their upset win over the 'Cats, ending their record-high 25-straight wins. It wasn't the greatest showing by any means, we unpack that game and the aftermath--which also wasn't very good. Now, the Wildcats are prepping for their trip out to the midwest, where...

Those Hawks were feisty, but the Villanova Wildcats were able to hold off a tough late-game rally to hang on for the win. They will now prepare for a Big 5 finale at the Palestra, when they play the Penn Quakers with another title on the line. With 10 games down, Brendan and Eugene discuss this team's progress so far and the season as a whole. The ever-rising placement on the NET rankings is certa...

The Villanova Wildcats are still undefeated in Big 5 play, and they won their first game at the Finn in about a month. They couldn't have done it without the play of Jermaine Samuels, who put together a great second half performance down the stretch to help lift the 'Cats to victory over the Temple Owls. Now, they're going to get ready for a game with the Saint Joseph Hawks this weekend--renewing...

A short and sweet episode! This past weekend was the start of Big 5 play for the Villanova Wildcats men's and women's basketball teams. Both squads had tough battles, but were able to gut it out. The men's team faced a winless La Salle team, while the women's team let us know that the Hawk is still dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aren't you glad you took your hands off the panic button? The Villanova Wildcats won the Advocare Invitational, landed back in the polls, and got in on what was a great week for the Big East. We discuss some takeaways from Feast Week for men's and women's basketball, prepare for the start of Big 5 play, and enjoy the bounce back performances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices....

It hasn't been the greatest of weeks for the Villanova Wildcats. After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since 2013, 'Nova has been bounced out of the polls. Michigan is one thing, but Furman?!?!?!! Breathe. Relax. The 'Cats are going to be okay. We unpack and play doctor and diagnose Villanova's growing pains, but in the long run--everything should be A-OK. On the bright side, 'Nov...

Wednesday probably didn't go as planned, when the Michigan Wolverines came into the Finn and dismantled the Villanova Wildcats in a national championship rematch. It wasn't a pretty game across the board, but is it time to panic? (Short answer: no) While Villanova endures its growing pains, it'll look to regroup against the Furman Paladins this weekend. In other action, women's basketball is going...

Villanova had its first game at the Wells Fargo Center over the weekend. It raised a banner, welcomed back former assistant coach Baker Dunleavy, and won in convincing fashion. Now, the 'Cats will turn their attention to a National Championship rematch at the Finn, when the Michigan Wolverines come to town. Sure, 'Nova lost a lot of key pieces from last year, but the struggling Michigan offense mi...

Villanova alum Darryl Reynolds joins the podcast to talk about his show, "Stay Tuned w/ D-Rey," a sneak peek for future episodes, the Villanova Basketball family, his experiences, and his new life chapter: being a part of the Villanova coaching staff. But first--Brendan Reilly breaks down the season opening Morgan State game, thoughts on the new-look Pavilion, and we play 'Something or Nothing.' W...

College basketball is back! With hours away before tip-off, we wrap up season outlook with the second and final part of our preview series. The spotlight is on the Big East, looking at all the other teams in the conference and different storylines. Perry Waggoner (Butler), Alex Sindelar (Creighton), Vijay Vemu (DePaul), Bobby Bancroft (Georgetown), Sam Newberry (Marquette), Ricky Keeler (St. John'...

With the 2018-19 college basketball season tipping off in just a few days, Catherine Ryan joins Eugene and Chris to preview the season. This is the first installment of a two-part series, where they focus on the Villanova Wildcats' non-conference opponents. They break down all 13 games, including every possible opponent at the Advocare Invitational, the Big 5, the first leg of a home-and-home seri...

The State of the Nova Nation is back for 2018! Per tradition, the first episode comes after Big East Media Day and a bunch of preseason storylines surrounding Villanova. The men's and women's basketball teams were well-represented on the conference's Big East preseason polls. Thoughts from Jay Wright on one-and-dones, the new G-League alternative. Phil Booth and Eric Paschall share their progress...

We needed to use the 48-hour rule and then some to calm down and figure out why the Philadelphia 76ers did what they did. Aside from that it was a big night for the Villanova Basketball program, as for the first time ever, four Wildcats went in a single NBA Draft. Also, three went in the first round alone, another milestone for the program. Mikal Bridges is now on the Phoenix Suns. Donte DiVincenz...

We're coming out of hiatus to discuss Wednesday, which was the deadline for student-athletes to decide on whether or not they will be committing to the NBA Draft. While the Villanova Wildcats already had Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges set on going, Donte DiVincenzo and Omari Spellman took their time. It turns out that the Wildcats will now have four players entering this year's draft and possibly...

The season finale of State of the Nova Nation ends on a high note. Recorded just hours after Villanova won its second national championship in three years, and hours before having to catch a flight, the Wildcats got their happily ever after. There were two heroes from this past weekend, and neither of them got to play during the 2016 title run, but Donte DiVincenzo and Eric Paschall stepped into t...

The 2017-18 college basketball season is coming to an end. The AP All-America teams are out. (Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson reppin' the Wildcats.) The stage is set in San Antonio for the Final Four and National Championship Games. The Villanova Wildcats will take on the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. After that, the winner takes on either the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers or the Michigan Wolverines. In...